Phils Beat Brew Crew

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Milwaukee, WI (Sports Network) – Shane Victorino finished a triple short of the cycle as he went 3-for-6 with four RBI and two runs scored to help the Philadelphia Phillies take a 10-6 win over the Milwaukee Brewers in the second test of a three-game series.

Paul Hoover went 3-for-5 with two RBI and three runs scored, Chase Utley drove in two runs and Placido Polanco went 4-for-6 with an RBI for the Phillies, who have won eight of their last 10.

Joe Blanton (1-2) went seven innings in the start to pick up his first win of the season. He gave up five runs on six hits with a walk and five strikeouts and also had a hit and two runs scored.

“This was Blanton’s first win of the year and I predict if he keeps pitching the way he does he will win a lot more,” said Philadelphia manager Charlie Manuel.

Corey Hart clubbed a three-run home run and drove in four while Prince Fielder and Alcides Escobar each added solo shots for the Brewers, who are an MLB- worst 4-13 at home this season.

Chris Narveson (3-1) was tagged for four runs on eight hits with three walks and nine strikeouts over 5 2/3 innings for Milwaukee, which has dropped five straight. He threw 130 pitches in the game, which was the most by any starter in the big leagues this season.

“It makes it impossible to fight back when you give up as many runs a game as we do,” said Milwuakee manager Ken Macha. “We gotta start winning again and getting the runs against us down is the key.”

After leaving the bases loaded in the first inning, the Phillies took the lead in the second.

With one out, Hoover singled to right and Blanton followed by reaching base on a fielder’s choice. Victorino then singled home the first run and, after Polanco struck out, Utley hit a ground-rule double for a 2-0 lead.

Blanton gave up a leadoff single to Gregg Zaun in the third, but then got Hart to hit into a double play and induced a groundout from Narveson.

Blanton faced the minimum through four, but Fielder led off the fifth with a blast to the upper deck in right. Casey McGehee then singled, but Blanton got the next three batters out.

The Phils padded their lead in the top of the sixth as Hoover led off with a single and, after Blanton struck out, Victorino bounced a ball off the top of the wall in left and over for a 4-1 lead.

Escobar drilled a fastball just over the scoreboard in left in the home half of the frame to make it a two-run game, but the Phils exploded for five runs in the top of the seventh to take command of the contest.

With runners on second and third and one out, Hoover drilled a double to left to bring home two runs. Blanton then punched a single to center and Victorino followed with a double to left to score Hoover. Polanco then punched a single to bring home Blanton and Utley later added a sac fly for a 9-2 lead.

Hart’s three-run home run in the bottom of the seventh cut Milwaukee’s deficit to four, but Hoover brought home a run in the eighth on a double play ball that scored Raul Ibanez, who led off with a walk and moved to third on Wilson Valdez’s single.

Chad Durbin worked around a two-out single in the bottom half and David Herndon came on in the ninth to close the game, but didn’t last it out.

McGehee grounded out to start the frame, but a double from Jody Gerut and a single from Zaun left runners on the corners. Hart then doubled to center to bring home Gerut and prompt Jose Contreras to take the mound.

George Kottaras walked to load the bases, but Rickie Weeks struck out swinging and Craig Counsell looked at strike three to end the game and give Contreras his first career save.

Game Notes

Philadelphia improved to 12-7 as the guests this year and 8-1 against the NL Central…Blanton improved to 2-1 in four career starts against Milwaukee…Victorino is 6-for-11 with seven RBI and three runs scored in the series…After the game, the Phils placed closer Brad Lidge on the 15-day disabled list with elbow inflammation. To take his place on the roster, the team recalled pitcher Antonio Bastardo from Triple-A Lehigh Valley.